Sword Among Us
chapter-1012

Chapter 1012: Barrel of Gunpowder. Not Joining

The flames of war waged everywhere.

Ever since Happy took the lead and ignited the flames of war by continuously destroying two branches, causing Class One Hall to descend into an inexplicable state of unease and anger, Dream Clouds was in a horrible mood.

The battle at Dragon’s Gate led to the two thousand elites led by Barren Murderer all dying. Wind Assault Tower and One Emperor had forcefully attacked, and it also crushed the final thought of her thinking that she might have actually escaped a disaster by sheer luck when Happy did not kill them all. She had also been originally thinking about using the threads on the forum and the foundation of strength in Class One Hall to stall for time while she waited for Wild Wolves and Evil Emperor to join the fray in the Chinese server.

Unfortunately, Wandering Know-it-all seemed to have noticed something from the fact that Evil Emperor had his information concealed, or else, it was impossible for One Emperor and Phantasmal Shadow to reach an agreement so soon. In fact, even Happy had joined them, and he traveled north from Nanking. Within one day, he was just sixty two miles away from Beijing.

“Hall master.”

A group of people entered the meeting hall in Class One Hall’s headquarters.

Half a minute later, twelve Class One Hall elders stood in two rows quietly in front of Dream Clouds. The leftmost person was Monk with Thick Eyebrows. His expression was stern. However, everyone else’s expression was grave and uneasy.

“You’re all here? Good.” Dream Clouds sucked in a deep breath. She turned around in an extraordinarily impressive and dignified manner before she sat down at the seat of honor for the hall master. “I believe all of you know that this time, Class One Hall has entered a period of time that will decide whether we survive or perish.”

The twelve elders stood quietly at their spots. No one made a single sound, and their expression did not change either.

“Originally, I wanted to wait until Evil Emperor arrives in the Chinese server once more so that we can work together and completely control the entire Chinese server. Then, I will reveal Class One Hall’s final trump card. But by the looks of things now, if I don’t take action, Phantasmal Shadow will work together with One Emperor and charge straight to Class One Hall’s headquarters!

“It doesn’t take a long time to travel from Dragon’s Gate to Beijing. Phantasmal Shadow has already started mobilizing her forces.”

When she said this, Dream Clouds caressed the smooth dragon head on the armrests of her chair. A cold, brutal look gradually appeared in her eyes. “You can take action now. Do all that you can!”

When she said the last five words, Monk with Thick Eyebrows and the rest did not say anything. It was as if they had received their final order. They turned around at the same time and left the meeting hall one after another.

When the group left silently, Dream Clouds stared at the mighty and solemn foundation in Class One Hall’s headquarters, which was outside the meeting hall, for a long time. Then, she slowly shut her eyes.

*****

Beijing was in a state of alarm!

When all the inner hall members and outer hall members in Class One Hall were gathered together, they numbered to tens of thousands of people, and with this number of people, they practically locked down all streets and restaurants several miles within the vicinity.

Class One Hall parties could be seen moving about the markets and streets all over the place.

However, Wind Assault Tower had clearly also mobilized all their forces in Beijing, and there were nearly one hundred thousand of them. They spread out everywhere in Beijing, and the people from the branches nearby were also entering Beijing in an endless stream.

Right now, the two superpowers in Beijing were engaged in a silent fight, and the intensity of the fight was gradually increasing. Each spot in Beijing seemed to be filled with thick hostility.

All of Beijing seemed to be accumulating a huge barrel of gunpowder that would ignite and explode at any moment.

Class One Hall was suppressing themselves, and they gradually gathered together near the headquarters.

But Wind Assault Tower seemed to have lost their patience. The one hundred thousand people slowly drew close to Class One Hall’s headquarters.

At the same time, the people from a number of local factions in Beijing also followed closely behind them to appear in the regions near Class One Hall’s headquarters.

More than ten tables at the restaurant were filled with people, and their weapons were placed on the tables.

“Sect Master Li!”

“Ha! Brother Yuan, you sure came early!”

“I’m not early. I just arrived.”

As a group of players with outstanding presences entered the place, the people inside had their eyes light up. The restaurant soon bustled with activity.

“Brother Ma, Brother Xiao, how rare. It’s been a few months since we last met! Have you been well?”

“Haha! It’s all thanks to you!”

“Waiter, add a bench for our table!”

“Alright, please wait for a while, dear customer!”

The players who were walking past the restaurant and had been prepared to enter the restaurant to rest their feet saw how full the restaurant was. They could not help but feel chills crawl down their spines. Then, they turned around and left.

But it was not strange. This was a small restaurant, and it was difficult to see great players who were at the level of sect masters appear inside on any other day. Right now, there were plenty of them in there. Any random person in the restaurant could be a sect master or vice sect master. The golden emblems on their chests dazzled the passersby’s eyes.

“Class One Hall is going to be in huge trouble this time.”

“They have to fight against Wind Assault Tower, and they’re also going up against One Emperor and Happy, who are two top-class elites. Those alone are already difficult for Class One Hall to fight against them. I didn’t think that there would be so many people who would join in the fun…” The players who had been resting in the corner of the restaurant since a long time ago drank with nimble movements while they spoke with each other excitedly via private messages.

“What do you mean, ‘join in the fun’? These sect masters are all ranked at the top among the eighteen sects in Beijing. Right now, eight of them are together… Class One Hall is going to be in great disaster this time…”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard as well.”

“Beijing has eighteen sects. Aside from Wind Assault Tower and Class One Hall, practically all of them have more than fifty sects all over the Chinese server. All of them possess strength that doesn’t lose to Five Venoms.”

“Each of them has more than ten thousand people in Beijing! If their elites gather together, the number they will have will be twice the number of elites Wind Assault Tower and Class One Hall will have together! If this force of power assembles, they will be even more terrifying than Wind Assault Tower when they fight at full force!”

“This time, they are definitely here to get a portion of the pie from Class One Hall.”

“Of course!”

“Class One Hall has hundreds of branches, and the resources they occupy do not lose to Wind Assault Tower at all. This is a major pie, there’s no reason for them to not want a piece of it.”

“Looks like the setup of power in the Chinese server is about to change drastically!”

“Yeah…”

“But Class One Hall has earned quite a lot over the past five years in the Chinese server. It’s a pity that she chose to work with Wild Wolves.”

“That’s a seriously stupid move.”

*****

At the same time, Wandering Know-it-all received two guests in his mansion.

In the pavilion was Wind Chimes, who stood quietly behind Wandering Know-it-all in her white robe. She gave off a peaceful, quiet, and ethereal feeling.

In front of her was Phantasmal Shadow, who wore a veil over her face, was dressed fully in armor, and gave off a fierce presence, along with a person who was dressed in the classic and noble manner of a wanderer. He wore a purple robe with black borders, and his presence was like a sword. The expression on his face was aggressive, and his gaze was fierce. He stood in the pavilion, but gave off a pressuring feeling, as if he was a sharp, aggressive, and mighty sword that had been unsheathed.

Two among the four stood, while the other two sat.

Each of them had completely different expressions and presences.

Wind Chimes looked as if she was not involved in this at all. She stood outside the circle formed by the trio, and her attention expression made her look incredibly like a young disciple.

Wandering Know-it-all sipped tea cooly. Even if he knew that a storm brewing in Beijing and something major was about to happen, he still remained calm and indifferent. He was not shocked, not happy, not proud, and not agitated by it all.

Right now, with just one order, Phantasmal Shadow could send one hundred thousand Wind Assault Tower members to fight against Class One Hall in Beijing. It was impossible for her to not feel nervous right now, and she was the only one in the pavilion who was surrounded by a solemn and stern air. However, she seemed to be waiting for something.

As for One Emperor, he was constantly giving off the air that he was a sharp and unyielding sword that could destroy everything!

He did the same thing now, even if the enemy standing in front of him was the second strongest sect in the Chinese server—Class One Hall!

“One Emperor, Phantasmal Shadow, we shouldn’t delay in this matter. It’s best if you attack as soon as possible. We don’t have a lot of time.”

Silence remained in the pavilion for a few minutes before Wandering Know-it-all manipulated the oracle bones on the stone table. Then, he looked up quietly and said, “You should know that Evil Emperor has been missing for one day. He needs at most half a month to come to the Chinese plains from the spot he disappeared, and you don’t have a lot of time left for you.”

“He hasn’t appeared yet.” Phantasmal Shadow frowned.

Wandering Know-it-all sighed. “A few hours have passed since the time he logged off. Something like this usually doesn’t happen, so this is very unusual!

“Since he still hasn’t appeared, this means that he has already guessed what we want to do and doesn’t intend to join the fight. It’s meaningless if you continue waiting. Even if he returns to the game, he might not work together with you.”

“Why?” Phantasmal Shadow’s face might be concealed, her clear eyes still gave Wandering Know-it-all a hint of pressure.

“When we made our plans, we never notified him or kept him informed beforehand. He has no duty in helping us attack Class One Hall’s headquarters.”

Right when Wandering Know-it-all finished speaking, another mocking voice sounded.

“That’s right. Martial artists are very prideful at times.

“Phantasmal Shadow, your advantage is in your schemes and your influence. Happy’s advantage is in his strength. You used your schemes to set him up and had him take the initiative to stir up the flames of war. Once he created the war, Wind Assault Tower easily gained all the fame from the incident. If I were in his place, I wouldn’t work with you either. No one likes being set up and used.”

Only One Emperor would dare use that tone to talk to Phantasmal Shadow!

Phantasmal Shadow felt a little wronged, and she explained. “Class One Hall has always been his enemy. What I did should not be considered as setting him up and using him. At the very most, it should only be considered as mutually helping each other.”

Wandering Know-it-all said, “Regardless of whether you were using him or whether you were mutually helping each other, Happy will definitely not join this operation.

“Phantasmal Shadow, we have sixteen top sects in Beijing helping us. Why must we wait for Happy? While it’s indeed amazing that Happy can fight against Class One Hall alone, in a chaotic battle, it’s inevitable that he will need to be wary of many things. He cannot produce the effect that you expect. Don’t continue wasting your time for him alone.”

“That’s right.” One Emperor agreed with Wandering Know-it-all’s viewpoint.

“I know that you are trying your best to preserve Wind Assault Tower’s strength by making sure as many people survive as possible and that you can cut down losses, but sometimes, don’t assume that you can do everything perfectly. There isn’t anything in the world where you can do perfectly, anyway.”

Once One Emperor and Wandering Know-it-all persuaded her, Phantasmal Shadow finally made her decision. “Alright, since he doesn’t want to appear, I won’t force him. Let’s carry out the plan!”

When she said her last sentence, her voice was gradually filled with a resolute and grim tone.

“Wind Chimes, follow One Emperor.” Wandering Know-it-all also looked solemn, which was something rare of him. He turned his head around and ordered Wind Chimes.

She nodded to show that she understood what he meant.

One Emperor did not say anything else either. He just turned his head around and cast Phantasmal Shadow one glance before he looked at Wandering Know-it-all and Wind Chimes. Then, he nodded and slowly walked out of the mansion.

Wind Chimes said nothing, but she did not remain idle and swiftly took quick and short steps to catch up to him.

Once One Emperor and Wind Chimes left, a messenger pigeon left Wandering Know-it-all’s mansion.